A public dedication is scheduled next week for a refurbished bridge honoring former Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton.
The span that carries 3rd Avenue S. over Interstate 94 just south of downtown will be dedicated Tuesday as the "Sharon Sayles Belton Bridge."
As part of the festivities, a sculpture will be ceremonially lit on the plaza at the north end of the bridge. The bridge's renovation includes restoration of the colored sidewalk, maintenance of the bridge facade and railing, and an upgrading of fixtures to energy-efficient LED lights.
The woven metal sculpture, titled "Beacon," was created by Janet Lofquist. The city describes it as symbolizing "how the framework of the community and its residents come together to form the fabric of a vibrant city. The sculpture's shiny steel surface is also illuminated from the inside, creating a mosaic of changing light, pattern and color."
The 7 p.m. event will include a live musical performance by Larry Long, Robert Robinson, J.D. Steele and Tonia Hughes.
Sayles Belton was mayor from 1994 to 2001. She was the city's first female mayor and first black resident to hold the office. Before becoming mayor, she represented the 8th Ward on the City Council for 10 years, the last three as council president.
Paul Walsh